Overview of EPA Activities to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water Eric - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Overview of EPA Activities to Reduce Lead in Drinking Water

Eric Burneson, Director Standards and Risk Management Division Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water June 1, 2018

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Safe Drinking Water Act: Lead and Copper Rule (LCR)

• The LCR addresses corrosion of lead and copper into drinking

water primarily from service lines and premise plumbing.

– Samples collected at the tap & 90th percentile compared to action level – Optimized Corrosion Control Treatment – Public Education – Lead Service Line Replacement

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LCR Implementation

• Implementation of the LCR
• ver the past twenty-five

years has resulted in improvements in public health.

• The number of large

drinking water systems exceeding the LCR action level has decreased by over 90 percent since the initial implementation of the LCR.

• EPA continues to see

steady decrease in ALEs among all systems

Time Period ALEs Systems with ALEs 2005-2007 7,136 5,152 2008-2010 5,247 3,924 2011-2013 4,323 3,349 2014-2016 3,147 2,440

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Key Challenges with the LCR

• The LCR is one of the most complicated drinking water regulations for

states and drinking water utilities to implement

• The LCR is the only drinking water regulation that requires sampling in

homes, often by the consumers themselves.

• The rule includes complex sampling and treatment technique

requirements to effectively limit corrosion of lead and copper from distribution systems and premise plumbing.

• The current structure of the rule compels additional protective actions

by water systems only after a potential problem has been identified (i.e., lead action level exceedance)

• In many communities, lead service lines (LSLs), a primary source of lead

are either are partially or entirely privately owned.

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Addressing the Key Challenges

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• EPA provides ongoing support to water professionals and public
• fficials through in-person and on-line trainings.
• These trainings focus on the rule’s key challenges and help states

and water systems:

– Gain a better technical understanding of the rule. – Learn how to implement the rule requirements more effectively.

• In 2017, EPA conducted a total of 27 in-person and online trainings
• n lead. The trainings:

– Reached over 4,600 participants. – Included participants from all 50 states, tribes, stakeholders, schools and utilities. – Covered general rule requirements, optimal corrosion control treatment and required actions after systems exceed an action level – Provided information on non-regulatory efforts to reduce lead in drinking water in schools

LCR Revisions Outreach

• EPA has engaged extensively with

stakeholders/experts

– Science Advisory Board – National Drinking Water Advisory Council – Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act/SBAR Panel – Local Government Advisory Committee – Federalism Consultation with State and Local Partners – National Tribal Consultation

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SAB Report on LCR Lead Service Line Replacement

• Partial LSL replacement has not been shown to reliably reduce drinking water lead

levels in the short term, ranging from days to months, and potentially even longer

• Partial LSL replacement is associated with elevated drinking water lead levels for

some period of time after replacement, suggesting the potential for harm, rather than benefit

• Available data suggest that elevated tap water lead levels tend to stabilize over time

following partial LSL replacement, sometimes at levels below and sometimes at levels similar to those observed prior to partial LSL replacement

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LCR: Lead Exposure Modeling

• As a part of EPA’s ongoing effort to understand and assess lead exposure to

children, the agency conducted an expert peer review of draft scientific modeling approaches in June 2017.

• Peer reviewers evaluated three approaches, all employing the Integrated

Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) Model for Lead in Children, that model lead in drinking water’s effect on blood lead levels (BLLs) using a range of exposure scenarios.

• Input from the peer review will help ensure that EPA is evaluating the best

information and latest science on how lead in drinking water can potentially impact the health of children, one of our most vulnerable populations.

• EPA is committed to use the best available science to inform LCR revisions to

improve public health protection.

For additional information on the peer review: https://www.epa.gov/dwstandardsregulations/lead- modeling-peer-review

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Safe Drinking Water Act – Lead Free Plumbing

• Section 1417 limits the amount of

lead allowed in pipes, fittings, fixtures, solder and flux.

• Defines “lead free” - not more than

0.25% lead for wetted surfaces for pipes, pipe fittings, plumbing fittings, and fixtures and not more than 0.2% lead for solder and flux

• Prohibits pipe, fitting or fixture that is not

lead free in the installation or repair of public water systems or plumbing providing water for human consumption

• Exempts – (1) those “used exclusively

for non-potable services” and (2) specifically named products (toilets, shower valves, fire hydrants, and 7

• thers)

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Proposed Regulation: Lead Free Plumbing

• Proposed Revisions January 2017
• Revise definition of “lead free”

consistent with the 2011 Reduction

• f Lead in Drinking Water Act
• Propose labeling and certification

requirements for manufacturers.

• Over 25,000 commenters received
• Labeling
• Certification
• Exemptions

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